360 Degrees in Liver Metastases from Colorectal Cancer. How to Build a Performing Multidisciplinary Team

Serono Symposia International Foundation (SSIF) organizes a continuing medical education (CME) accredited conference in Rome on November 9-10 2012 with leading international experts to discuss current and future multidisciplinary approaches to the treatment of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the world[1]. About 25% of patients present with stage IV CRC and almost 50% of CRC patients overall will develop metastases. For these patients, the multidisciplinary approach is strongly recommended to improve both the clinical and survival outcomes.

"In metastatic colorectal cancer, it is mandatory that different healthcare professionals work together to find the best treatment for each patient - claims Professor René Adam, Chairman of the Rome conference and Head of the Oncological Hepatobiliary Surgery of the Paul Brousse Hospital, Villejuif, France - Since last year, we have worked on an important position paper on managing metastases from colorectal cancer and have concluded that resectability and survival rates improve in specialized centres using multidisciplinary approach with specialists including radiologists, pathologists, oncologists and liver surgeons."

The program of the Rome conference will stimulate an engaging and informative debate on the many complex issues related to the management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Beside the scientific program, the Rome meeting offers an important occasion to understand what multidisciplinary approach in the colorectal cancer treatment really means for patients. In fact, during the last session of the first day of the meeting presented by Professor René Adam, two cured patients will report their experiences to the audience.

"SSIF strongly believes that medical education is a high priority in oncology - explains Michèle Piraux, Secretary to the Board of Directors of SSIF -. Due to the constantly evolving range of medical knowledge, we wish both to create opportunities for debate and to understand how to improve these patients' lives, also through their voices."

Serono Symposia International Foundation (SSIF) is a non-profit organization based in Geneva (Switzerland). It was founded to disseminate the most innovative achievements and potential developments of medical and scientific research through Continuing Medical Education programs to improve the life of patients.